Note on describing
The first step to approach visual language is obviously being able to see what are you looking at. Actually seeing means to observe accurately an object until you become able to describe it. Elements of art (line, shape, form, value, color, texture, space) are useful to describe about any image or object, principles of art add more information on how they are organised (rhythm and movement, proportion, balance, variety, emphasis, harmony, unity).
Woman of WillendorfPaleolithic (c. 24,000-22,000 BC)
Limestone, 11 cm high Naturhistorisches Museum, Vienna The Woman of Willendorf is а little sculpture found in 1908 A.D. in Willendorf, Austria. It represents а female body with big bгеаst and a big belly. It was carved in limestone with a particular emphasis on volume and form rather than details. It cannot stand and could easily be held in the palm of an hand. You can learn something about her here.
Paleolithic people lived by hunting and collecting food. At that time such fat female figures could have represented wealth and fertility, perhaps even beauty. |
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Lunigiana Tombstone (Taponecco)
Neolithic, 3000 B.C.
Sandstone, 122 cm high Castello del Piagnaro, Pontremoli (Massa) The way we live today, settled in homes, close to other people in towns and cities, protected by laws, eating food grown on farms, and with leisure time to learn, explore and invent is all a result of the Neolithic revolution, which occurred approximately 11,500-5,000 years ago. The revolution which led to our way of life was the development of the technology needed to plant and harvest crops and to domesticate animals.
Before the Neolithic revolution, it's likely you would have lived with your extended family as a nomad, never staying anywhere for more than a few months, always living in temporary shelters, always searching for food and never owning anything you couldn’t easily pack in a pocket or a sack. The change to the Neolithic way of life was huge and led to many of the pleasures (lots of food, friends and a comfortable home) that we still enjoy today. The massive changes in the way people lived also changed the types of art they made. Neolithic sculpture became bigger, in part, because people didn’t have to carry it around anymore. (text taken from Dr. Senta German's essay published on Khan Academy) |
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_Menkure and Khamerernebty_4th Dynasty
2548-2530 B.C.
Greywacke, 139.5 cm high Museum of Fine Arts, Boston Egyptians Art was ruled by a very strict code of герresentation able to visually turn reality into eternity. The statue of Menkure and Khamerernebty embodies the Godlike nature of the Pharaoh and his wife. You can find more information on ancient Egyptian art here
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Ancient Greek TempleReconstruction of the Temple of Aphaia at Aegina (c. 470 B.C.)
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Roman Architecture
What did make Roman architecture so great and successful? Discover it by reading this article.
What did make Roman architecture so great and successful? Discover it by reading this article.
Ancient Greek Sculpture
_Roman bronze reduction of Myron's Discobolos,
2nd century b.C. Glyptothek, Munich |
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Art Beyond RealismByzantine Emperor Justinian I
6th century AD Church of San Vitale, Ravenna |
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Iconism and Aniconism
Mandala of Jnanadakini
Sakya School, Tibet late 14th century distemper on cloth, 75 x 84 cm (137.5 x 92 cm with original textile mount) Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York City |
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